You must bring:- one form of non-expired, government-issued, photo- and signature-bearing ID
Note: If one piece of ID does not have your name, photo or signature, you may present two pieces of non-expired, government-issued ID that together demonstrate all three requirements.
Acceptable forms of primary ID include:
- driver's license
- government-issued ID
- government-issued work ID
- military ID
- NEXUS card
- Passport
- permanent resident visa or green card
- provincial health card (if photo is included)
Acceptable forms of secondary ID include: - provincial or state health card
- social security card (US)
- study permit (must be original and non-expired)
the emailed confirmation of your scheduled appointment
a stethoscope (not needed if you are being assessed for a health care aide role) you must wear clothing appropriate to the nursing role in which you assessment
Candidates are encouraged to bring as few personal belongings as possible
We also encourage candidates to bring snacks or food, as well as drinks, water, and/or coffee in a thermos. You will receive a short break during the assessment.
Items that will be put in a locker:- Purses, wallets, food, drink
- Watches, calculators, cell phone, pager, iPod, or any PDA
- iPhones, iPads, Blackberry, tablets, laptops or notebook computers
- Pens, pencils, pen lights
- Paper, books, notebooks
- Bags, briefcases
- Any other personal items deemed by NCAS or the test administrator to be in appropriate
| What to expectYou must show up 20 minutes in advance of your scheduled appointment, have your stethoscope (unless you are a health care aide), and be dressed in the work clothes appropriate to your role. For information on NCAS' COVID-19 protocols, please click here. When you arrive at the assessment site . . . - The Assessment Centre Coordinator will provide an orientation to the simulation lab and equipment
- You will be asked to sign a video consent form and a confidentiality form prior to assessment
- You will put your personal belongings in a secure area to which you will have no access until after the full assessment is compete
- You will watch a video about the simulation assessment
FormatThe objective of the Simulation Lab Assessment is to provide you an opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in a series of simulated patient encounters. Candidates visit four stations in the simulation lab and take on the role of a nurse or health care aide. Each room is set up to reflect a specific kind of practice setting, and to allow for a specific assessment or treatment to be performed allowing you to demonstrate a full breadth of nursing practice. The rooms may look like an acute care or chronic care facility, or represent a community care setting like a community clinic, or someone’s apartment or home.
At the start of each station, you will receive a chart with a brief written statement that introduces the presenting clinical problem and states the task you will need to perform. The chart also includes a variety of supporting documents to assist in the planning of care. You will be given five minutes to review the chart. You should act in each scenario as you would in a real-life practice setting.
When you walk into the assessment room, you will find the following:
- Standardized patient (a live actor), or a high-tech mannequin
- An assessor who will evaluate your performance
- Paper, pencil, and calculator
- Clock
- Station props based on the context of the setting. For example, you may see a monitor, medication cart, blood pressure cuff, etc.
Here is a list of equipment you might encounter based on the context of the setting:- Wheelchair
- Transfer belt
- Walker/cane
- Bedpan
- Commode/toilet
- Foley and urine drainage bag
- Meal tray and feeding implements; water
- Bed-rails and brakes
- Call bell
- Oxygen
- Linen cart
Note: You won’t find a sink in any of the assessment rooms. Any water that you need for patient purposes will be provided for you in a basin or pitcher. Each room will have hand sanitizer and gloves for you to use. Every assessment room also has an observation room where a camera technician sits. Additional people may be present in the observation room, this is solely for training purposes and their presence has no impact on your scoring.
You will also notice cameras in the assessment room that will record your performance. The first thing the assessor will have you do is face one of the cameras, and state your name and NCAS ID.
Once you enter the room, you will have five minutes to read the chart. You may make notes (paper will be provided). The assessor will indicate when you may begin the simulation. Each of the four simulations may run from 20 – 60 minutes based on the nursing role. This is true even if you are being assessed for two professions at once. The assessor will notify you when your time is up. If you have completed your nursing practice before the time is up, review the chart to make sure you have not missed anything. After each role play, you will take part in the Oral Assessment, which comprises a series of questions posed by the assessor – the standardized patient is not part of the oral assessment. When you have finished your oral assessment, you’ll be asked to leave the room. You will be met outside by NCAS staff, and asked to take a seat outside the next assessment room.
DurationThe duration of the Simulation Lab Assessment (SLA) depends on the profession for which you're being assessed.
Health Care Aides |
Licensed Practical
Nurses |
Registered Nurses |
Registered Psychiatric Nurses | - Candidates will move through four stations of unfolding case scenarios
- Three stations will involve face-to-face encounters with standardized patients (trained actors)
- One station will involve a high-fidelity or 'smart' mannequin
- It will take about 25-35 minutes for you to complete your role at each testing station
- You should expect to be at the simulation lab for approximately 3 – 4.5 hours in order to complete the assessment.
| - Candidates will move through four stations of unfolding case scenarios
- Two stations will involve face-to-face encounters with a standardized patient (trained actor)
- Two stations will involve a high-fidelity mannequin
- It will take about 30-40 minutes to complete your work at each station
- You should expect to be at the simulation lab for approximately 3 – 4.5 hours in order to complete the assessment.
| - Candidates will move through four stations of unfolding case scenarios
- Two stations will involve face-to-face encounters with a standardized patient (trained actor)
- Two stations will involve a high-fidelity mannequin
- It will take about 35-45 minutes to complete your work at each station
- You should expect to be at the simulation lab for approximately 3.5 – 5 hours in order to complete the assessment.
| - Candidates will move through three stations of unfolding case scenarios
- All three stations will involve face-to-face encounters with a standardized patient (trained actor)
- It will take about 45-60 minutes to complete your work at each station
- You should expect to be at the simulation lab for approximately 5 – 6.5 hours in order to complete the assessment.
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